Method of constructing tunnels.



No. 774,595. PATENTED NOV. 8.11904.

E. W. MOIR.

METHOD 0F CONSTRUCTING TUNNELS APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1904.

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nuda/77%? 3V ATTORNEYS No. 774,595. PATEN'TED NGV. 8, 1904. E. W. MOIR.

METHOD OP'GONSTRUCTING TUNNELS.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 16, 1904.

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ATTORNEYS Y UNITED STATES s ERNEST IVILLIAM MOIR, OF LONDON,

Patented November 8, 1904.

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO S. PEARSON AND SON, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING TUNNELS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,595, dated. November 8, 1904.

Application filet` June 16, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEsT VILLIAM MorR, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing' in London, England, have invented an Improved Method of Constructing Tunnels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has especial reference to the construction of subaqueous tunnels-that is, tunnels which are constructed under a bed of a river or an inlet or arm of the sea. My invention is particularly useful Where there is danger of trouble from leakage in the joints of the tunnel-tubes such that there might occur either an outflow of compressed air or an inrush of water or liquid mud.

My invention is based upon the well-known principle of applying freezing methods in the construction of tunnels, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the application of my invention to the construction of a number of tunnels side by side under a river or an arm of the sea. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional diagram. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of a modification, and Figfi is a corresponding longitudinal sectional diagram.

In the views, A indicates the level of the water, and B the bed of thefriver orarm of the sea, while T T indicate the tunnel-tubes in course of construction through the soil under the water.

My invention consists in laying on the bed of the river or sinking into the mud just below the water a grillage or other like suitable horizontal arrangement of piping, as indicated at O in the drawings, immediately over the forward ends of the tunnels in course of construction and connecting this grillage by suitable piping D to a freezing apparatus which is outside the tunnels and may be on a dock or other suitable point at the shore or on an anchored iioating craft E, as indicated in the drawings. The pipes of the grillage, as well as the piping leading thereto from the freezing apparatus, consist of a series of double pipes-that is, one inside the other-so that Serial No. 212,792. (No model.)

the brine or other non-congealable freezing medium which is to be circulated through the piping' from the freezing apparatus may flow in one direction through the inner pipe and in the other direction through the outer pipe, as usual in these appliances.V By means of this 5 5 horizontal grillage I produce over the parts of the tunnels which are being constructed a roof of frozen material, which while protecting the part of theV soil through which the tunnels are being carried from troublesome leakage of Water, yet leaves that soil soft and easily worked for the advancing construction of the tunnel-tubes. vThe freezing medium circulating through the pipes will freeze downward the original bed of the river or inlet from the sea for a number 'of feet proportionate to the temperature of the flowing brine and the reduced conductivity due to the frozen material above.

In some cases, especially where there might 7 O otherwise be liability to leakage at the joints of the tubes or face of the tunnel in course of construction and it is important to prevent an outiiow of compressed air or a possible inrush of Water, mud, or sand into the tunnel, I dump onto the top of the horizontal grillage O a layer or blanket of clay or other earth or suitable material to any convenient thicknesssaj7 ten feet, for example-as indicated at G in the drawings. On circulating 8O the brine or other medium through the piping this bed of clay or other material will be frozen, and, as before described, the original bed of the river or stream Will be frozen downward for a suitable number of feet. This method of applying a layer of clay or like material and freezing it will be useful -not only for special cases where there might be danger of an escape of compressed air or of an inflow of water, etc., but in some instances the method may be found sufficiently effective so that the tunnels may be constructed Without req uiring'the use of compressed air.

In conjunction with the formation of a frozen roof vover the series of tunnels with or without the clay layer, as described, I may provide alongside the outer edges of the outer tunnel tubes longitudinal rows of vertical freezing-pipes H H, Figs. 3 and 4, which pipes H may be connected to the horizontal freezing-pipes. By this means I am able'to form a frozen roofing and frozen side walls inclosing the soil through which the tunnels are to be constructed or forced, which soil is itself left in its natural soft state except near the freezing-tubes, so that the construction of the tunnels may be continued with ease under the protection of the frozen side walls and roof. rlhe grillage and also the row of vertical side pipes will of course be advanced as the tunnels progress.

I claim as my invention l. The mode herein described of constructing subaqueous tunnels, consisting in providing in the bed of the river, over the advancing ends of the tunnels, a horizontal grillage, and circulating a freezing medium through said piping from a source outside the tunnels, to form a frozen roof over the tunnels.

2. The herein described method of constructing subaqueous tunnels, consisting in providing in the bed of the river, over the advancing tunnels, a horizontal grillage of freezing-piping, dumping a layer of clay or other material over the grillage, and causing a freezing medium to circulate through the grillage.

3. The method herein described of constructing subaqueous tunnels, consisting in providing at the bed of the river a horizontal grillage of freezingepiping over the advancing ends of the tunnels, and providing alongside the outer sides of the advancing tunnels longitudinal rows of vertical freezing-piping, and causing' a freezing medium to circulate through the said piping from a source outside the tunnels, to form a frozen roof and side walls inclosing the soil of which the tunnels are being constructed.

1i. The method herein described of constructing subaqueous tunnels, consisting in providing at the bed of the river, over the advancing tunnels, a horizontal grillage of piping, dumping a layer of clay or like material over the same, and providing alongside the outer sides of the advancing ends of the tunnels, longitudinal rows of vertical piping, and causing a freezing medium to circulate from a source outside the tunnels through said grillage and piping to form a roof and side walls to protect the soil through which the tunnels are being forced.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST WILLIAM MOIR.

Witnesses:

HUBERT HowsoN, F. WARREN WRIGHT. 

